Of course 1/2 way in the series, something big is beginning to happen not to mention what happened to relationship status of Reyes/Charley and Cookie and Uncle Bob/Cookie. This series is sooo good!

So I usually like to take notes of all the chaotic thoughts that go through my head while reading a book so that, when I write the review a few days (or, let's be honest, possible weeks) later, I can recount some of my prior feelings....

Why did I feel the need to tell you this? Well because of the simply fact that this book absorbed me so fully I actually forgot to take notes and just gushed out loud to myself! (You may not find this as much of a "wow" factor that I do... but if you knew how OCD I was about it.... you'd be impressed).

I'm not going to recount and give background on everything this book is about since I'm assuming that if you are reading this, you have read (or at least considered reading, and therefore have heard of) the other books. So I'm going to keep this review like my adorable little, old grandma... short and sweet.

A lot happens in this book so be prepared for quite a doozy (especially after the grenade of an ending from the last book...). Everything that you love from the last book, including Charley's wit, sarcasm and penchant for getting in way over head is here (and let's be honest, you either love everything about Charley.... or you are wrong).

This book continues to make me love the Charley/Reyes couple <3<3<3 literal hearts in the eyes for them.

Be prepared as well.... this book literally made me cry from some of the death in it... which I don't cry over books much, especially books about a PI who can see ghosts and works with her uncle to solve their deaths. The surprise of people dying is kind of ruined. But for some reason, the deaths in this book got to me as much as they got to Charley. So keep some tissues nearby.

Overall, this is still a fabulous book with fabulous characters and a fabulous plot and I'm so excited to see what else Charley can get herself into.

So we have more info more characters and more sad ghost story. Im looking forward for the coffee withdrawal. I really don't mind that in every book there is only a crumb of info as long as it's so enjoyable. And damn i cried again.

I can't believe that this series just keeps getting better. The characters are all well thought out and I love how the author weaves all of them together. On to #7

This one seemed slightly less cohesive than previous?

Spoiler

It felt like there was still something not resolved at the end... and the sub-story of Quentin's breakdown was only 'meh', didn't seem very important, but maybe it will come back up again in future books.
Also, the sub plot of getting Cookie together with UB was not great--I think there was a mistake where it said Cookie was on her third date, but then later she was getting ready for the third and final date... also, Cookie has seemed to be Charlie's voice of reason sometimes, so this felt a little out of character for her to go along with this plan. Cookie definitely seems spunkier in earlier books, and I would have thought she wouldn't really have a problem asking UB out herself.

Okay, I knew it was inevitable BUT I HATE WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER GETS PREGNANT. it always turns into THING (TM).

This one saw things get really weird. Still some great twists and still some emotional moments. So far, nothing has topped book 3 for me but I'm in it to win it.

This writing reminded me a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton's writing. I enjoyed it, but it definitely had it's annoying moments. Hated the "trying to be clever" part, especially the opening's for each chapter, which were always one liners taken from things like T-Shirts or bumper stickers. I appreciated that for being a romance novel (I think?) the amount of sex scenes wasn't overwhelming or over the top. The relationship dynamics, unfortunately, were not too impressive. Oh, so it's no big deal that this dude doesn't respect boundaries and totally TOOK OUT A WALL to combine your apartments without your permission. Also, I've said this before, but, I have no interest in men looking perfect-they need some physical flaws, or at least some average bits, to be anything near interesting. Nothing's sexy or special when "everything" is sexy. Relationships and general feel were all very formulaic, but at least the supernatural bits made it more interesting than your average romance. And if I see more of this series at the library as audiobook, I'll probably still pick them up, so, it was good enough.

I can count the number of books that made me laugh out loud on one hand and this book (and series) is one of them. As always, another strong read that you know will be filled with mystery, danger, sexy times, and excitement. Looking forward to the next one!

Sale Alert: Jun month Kindle deal $2.99

4.5 Stars

I know that Charley Davidson’s ‘always on’ sense of humor is not for everyone….but I love it. I always enjoy the intro quote to every chapter and her banter with the people around her friends, enemies and nigh fiancés and that is my big draw to this series. That and of coarse the incredibly sexy son of Satan Mr. Reyes Farrow.

“He looks like, I don’t know.” She dared a quick look over my shoulder. “Have you ever seen the sky at night when the stars weren’t out but it was crystal clear, the sky such a deep dark black that you were sure you could drown in it, it was so beautiful.”
I nodded knowingly. “Yes I have.”
“He’s that.” She slammed her eyes shut as thought picturing him in her mind, afraid to look again. “He’s the deep, dark kind of beauty that you’d sell your soul to have.”

As usually Charley is busy as a PI with at least one client, she is also solving a mystery, playing matchmaker with Ubie and Cookie and trying to figure out all of her Grim powers on top of all that. She always has a full plate, so no wonder she is as obsessed with coffee as I am, we’d totally get coffee together in real life. I really do enjoy all the time she spends with the side characters and how they all interact with her crazy a little differently.

“Now, now,” Garrett said, wrestling the gun from him. “Charley brings out the worst in all of us. It’s not her fault.”
“He’s right,” I said. “I have a condition.”

This installment is just as hilarious as the prior books. Charley does and says so many irreverent things that I bust out laughing more than once there is the introduction of a brand new player in the game. An escaped demon aptly named ‘The Dealer’ who bargains for peoples souls. He seems to know a lot about Charley and being a grim so if Reyes isn’t going to tell her maybe she can get some answers from him. She will just have to be careful not to loose her own soul in the process.

“What if I only bargained for the souls of bad people? You know, murderers and child molesters and people who cut in line at the theater snack counter.”
There was a thought I could live with. Well, not the snack-counter thing, but…. “You could be like the demonic version of Dexter.”

But for all the hilarity there are some down right emotional moments that brought a tears to my eyes. Charley really does have a big heart and what wouldn’t she do for the people she cares about. Angel’s story was a complete surprise that left me a little emotional.

The major arc going across the series gets some more dimension to it as this story progresses and even though Reyes doesn’t like ‘The Dealer’ at all he is helping understand the prophecy so maybe he can live for now.

“He would rip out his spine if I let him.”
She patted my knee. “I would expect nothing less from the son of evil incarnate. He’s a good guy.”

With everything else going on you might think that we don’t get much Reyes/Charley time but they make it work and they have some real relationship moments and some hot sexy time together too. Plus we must find out the answer to the infamous question on the ‘Post It’ note.

Darynda Jones ends this installment with a big surprise that could change everything. She does have a flare for the dramatic in her endings. But I loved how it ended and as always I’m excited to carry on in this series.

Oh Damn.